OKLAHOMA CITY (Tuesday, May 24, 2016) – Real Monarchs SLC (3-4-3, 12 pts) succumbed Tuesday night against the OKC Energy, 1-3, in a match delayed nearly an hour by lightning. RSL FW Devon Sandoval found the back of the net early for the Monarchs, but a pair of late first-half goals by the home side doomed Head Coach Freddy Juarez’ team, which will return to Utah for 72 hours prior to a weekend trip to Vancouver.
Part of a three-game week and the second match in four days for the Monarchs, Juarez made a quartet of changes to the starting 11 that defeated Orange County at the weekend. In the 22nd minute, Sandoval, who joined the Monarchs directly from his first team exploits in Kansas City Saturday, received the ball from MF Ricardo Velazco at the top of the 18-yard box, then spinning his defender to gain a half a yard of space to shoot and smashed a shot past the Energy GK for a 1-0 Monarchs lead.
Wind and weather caused havoc in the Monarchs half, especially with OKC’s penchant for long throws and other set piece opportunities. Brilliant defending and a goal-line clearance from another of the four Monarch changes, DF Emilio Orozco, kept GK Lalo Fernandez’ goal unscathed until the 28th minute. Energy MF Michael Harris, famous for his flip throw that travels 60 yards, launched a throw that caught the Monarch defense napping as Orozco failed to handle the clearance, affording a one-on-one opportunity for Danni Konig, who made no mistake in rifling the equalizer.
The home side grew in confidence after the goal, a boisterous home crowd willing the side on to another goal just eight minutes later. After a few quality saves by Fernandez, DF Coady Andrews got his head on the end of an Energy corner to leave the Monarchs undone on two set pieces. The rest of the half was all Monarchs as the visitors did all they could to force an equalizer but a couple of half chances unfulfilled led to a 1-2 deficit at halftime.
The second stanza started with the Monarchs and Velazco, emboldened from his two goals on Saturday, just a deflection and inches away from restoring parity after a great run and shot from 20 yards out deflected just the wrong side of the Energy’s left post. That was to be the closest the Monarchs came to getting a point from this contest as the rest of the windblown half lacked the quality and excitement that all in attendance were afforded in the first 45 minutes.
In the 88th minute, nearby lightning strikes put a halt on proceedings for 55 minutes just as the Monarchs were picking up a little momentum through substitute FW Emery Welshman’s industrious play. Welshman, making his second appearance after a lengthy injury layoff, came on for RSL FW Olmes Garcia and instantly won back-to-back corners for the Monarchs, but after the second corner the referee blew the whistle that sent both sets of players and fans searching for cover.
Once the storm had passed, play resumed for the last two-and-a-half minutes of regulation and stoppage time. Within 90 seconds of the restart, Welshman did well again to beat his defender but did not get the foul call in the box. However, moments later OKC put the result beyond doubt as substitute Kyle Highland got on the end of a scramble in the Monarch box and buried his shot to secure all three points.
The Monarchs travel back to Salt Lake City Wednesday before heading to Vancouver for the first of two back-to-back matches against top-of-the-table Whitecaps 2.
OKLAHOMA CITY ENERGY 3 : 1 REAL MONARCHS
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2016
TAFT STADIUM
Goals by Period 1 2 F
Real Monarchs 1 0 1
Oklahoma City Energy 2 1 3
Scoring Summary:
RM: Devon Sandoval (Ricardo Velazco) 22’
OKC: Danni Konig 28’
OKC: Coady Andrews 36’
OKC: Kyle Highland 90+3’
Misconduct Summary:
RM: Riley McGovern (Caution; Foul) 65’
Lineups:
Real Monarchs (4-2-3-1): Lalo Fernandez; Boyd Okwuonu (Tyler Arnone 69’), Phanuel Kavita, Emilio Orozco, Riley McGovern (Darion Copeland 88’); Danilo Acosta (Alec Sundly 75’), Omar Holness, Olmes Garia (Emery Welshman 81’), Elder Torres (Andrew Brody 59’) Ricardo Velazco; Devon Sandoval.
Substitutes not used: Connor Sparrow, Amass Amankona.
Oklahoma City Energy (4-4-2): Cody Laurendi; Kaylen Ryden, Coady Andrews, Cyprian Hedrick, Michael Harris; Coy Craft (Daniel Gonzalez 66’), Michael Byskov, Michael Thomas, Sebastian Dalgaard (Kyle Highland 75’); Colin Bonner (Wojciech Wojcik 84’), Danni Konig.
Substitutes not used: C.J. Cochran, Jose Cuevas, Evans Frimpong, Luis Martinez
Referee: Greg Dopka
Assistant Referees: Wade Beall, Brandon Queri
Fourth Official: Lance Stewart
Attendance:
Weather: Sunny and 80 degrees
Tuesday’s match was the fourth of an 11-game trek away from home, although two games – including Sat., June 11 v Sacramento – are considered “Monarchs On Tour” home matches, following last week’s match at the University of Utah. The Monarchs return to Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 2, hosting Vancouver Whitecaps 2 after the Sandy venue’s field resurfacing is complete.
The general public sale for 2016 Monarchs season tickets is ongoing. In addition, Real Salt Lake season ticket members can join the Crown Club (www.RSL.com/tickets/Crown-Club) by adding Real Monarchs season tickets for as low as $48, including exclusive Crown Club benefits. The Rio Tinto Stadium box office is open Tues.-Fri., 10a-6p; more information can be found online at www.RSL.com/Monarchs/Schedule or via the Fan Relations Hotline at 801-727-2702.
